Ex-cop Sombero yields to incoming PNP chief

MANILA, Philippines — Former police colonel and self-styled gaming industry expert Wenceslao “Wally” Sombero surrendered to incoming Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Oscar Albayalde yesterday.

Sombero surrendered after the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday issued a warrant for his arrest on plunder charges.

Albayalde said Sombero’s camp sent him surrender feelers after the ombudsman ordered his arrest in connection with the P50-million bribery scandal involving a Chinese casino operator.

“A couple of days ago, a feeler from Mr. Sombero’s camp approached me and told me about Mr. Sombero’s intention to surrender,” Albayade said. The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division on Tuesday ordered the arrest of Sombero and Chinese casino mogul Jack Lam.

The anti-graft court also ordered the recommitment of former immigration officials Al Argosino and Michael Robles to the Quezon City Jail Annex at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig after finding probable cause to try them for plunder.

Sombero is a retired police officer with a rank of senior superintendent. He was involved in the controversial release of some 1,315 Chinese illegally working at the Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino at the Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga in November 2016.

The two former Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials, on the other hand, allegedly demanded P50 million from Jack Lam to facilitate the release of the illegal Chinese workers.?Albayalde said Sombero was among those summoned to shed light on the controversy before a Senate inquiry which later recommended the filing of charges of bribery, graft and plunder against the former police officer.

Albayalde told a press briefing that he will turn Sombero over to the custody of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

CIDG chief Director Roel Obusan said they will return the warrant to the ombudsman to get a commitment order for Sombero.?Lawyer Jesse Canete said Sombero wanted to be in the custody of the CIDG “because he was a former police officer and according to him, there’s nothing more natural than just to come home to Camp Crame.” – Elizabeth Marcelo, Paolo Romero, Evelyn Macairan